Despite Fannett-Metal's impressive start to the season, and the ability to put up big numbers at the plate - there's something about Forbes Road.

In the opening game of the season, the Tigers and the Cardinals faced off in a one-run contest, which swung in F-M's favor - but Wednesday in their Sideling Hill League/Inter-County Conference softball matchup, Forbes Road came out on top of a one-run battle, led by Courtney Schoen in the circle and a solid defensive effort behind her.

The Cardinals broke Fannett-Metal's five-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory and Forbes' third straight win.

Forbes Road coach Pete Hall said, "We knew it was a big game. We saw the district rankings and we knew Fannett-Metal only had one loss, so our girls showed a lot more energy and more hunger tonight than they have all season."

Schoen fanned six batters while her defense went to work fielding a number of well-hit ground balls and limiting errors along the way.

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Forbes Road first baseman Peyton Watkins gets set as Courtney Schoen throws a pitch to a Fannett-Metal batter during a SHL/ICC game on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Fannett-Metal's Morgan Ritchey rounds first base after hitting a double to center field during a during a SHL/ICC game against Forbes Road on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Fannett-Metal's Cole Funk forces out Forbes Road's Caleb Vogel at second base and throws the ball to first during a baseball game played at Fannett-Metal on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. F-M defeated the Cardinals, 4-3. Noelle Haro-Gomez, GameTimePA.com

Fannett-Metal's Kyler Goshorn pitches during a baseball game against Forbes Road played at Fannett-Metal on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. The Tigers defeated Forbes Road 4-3. Noelle Haro-Gomez, GameTimePA.com

Fannett-Metalls Frankie Ryder attempt to catch the ball during a baseball game against Forbes Road played at Fannett-Metal on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Fannett-Metal defeated Forbes Road 4-3. Noelle Haro-Gomez, GameTimePA.com

Fannett-Metal's Brooke Harris watches for a signal from a coach during a during a SHL/ICC game against Forbes Road on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Forbes Road's Courtney Schoen releases the ball during a SHL/ICC game against Fannett-Metal on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. The Cardinals defeated Fannett-Metal 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Forbes Road's Courtney Schoen squares up at the plate during a during a SHL/ICC game against Fannett-Metal on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Forbes Road's Tina Parsons (22) runs down the first-base line as Fannett-Metal's Jade Rhodes completes the out at first during a during a SHL/ICC game on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Fannett-Metal's Brooke Harris winds up to deliver a pitch during a during a SHL/ICC game against Forbes Road on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Forbes Roads Logan Grubb runs to second base during a baseball game against Forbes Road played at Fannett-Metal on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Fannett-Metal defeated Forbes Road 4-3. Noelle Haro-Gomez, GameTimePA.com

Forbes Road's Lilith Wilt successfully makes it to first base after getting a hit during a during a SHL/ICC game against Fannett-Metal on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

Fannett-Metal players celebrate after registering an out during a during a SHL/ICC game against Forbes Road on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com

"We've been making a lot more plays, which feels really good as a pitcher to know they are behind me," Schoen said. "They have good hitters and we saw that last time too, so there's definitely some pressure seeing those girls come up. But my curveball was working a lot better tonight than it has been, so that's what I lived on."

In the bottom of the third Forbes Road (4-4, 4-3 SHL, 4-2 ICC) was sparked by a one-out single by Lilith Wilt followed by a walk to put runners in scoring position. Christina Parsons stepped up to bat and sent an RBI single to left field, followed by a fielder's choice RBI by Schoen to bring in the eventual game-winning run.

But Fannett-Metal (8-2, 6-2 SHL, 5-2 ICC) responded in the next inning with a leadoff double by Morgan Ritchey, who, in the inning prior, registered the final out on a nifty play at short to get F-M out of a jam. An RBI single by Brooke Harris followed to start the rally, but a strikeout and two outs ended the inning with runners on first and second.

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Fannett-Metal's Morgan Ritchey watches her hit fly into the air during a SHL/ICC game against Forbes Road on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Hustontown. Forbes Road won 2-1. (Photo: Lindsey Smith, GameTimePA.com)

"Defense is a work in progress, and the girls have worked hard and they've invested themselves and that showed up tonight," Hall said. "They didn't rattle when things didn't go our way and when we needed to make a play, when Fannett-Metal had a rally, (the upperclassmen) were there to get it done."

"We knew Schoen was going to throw strikes and make us chase the ball down," Fannett-Metal coach Michael DeAngelo said. "She had our hitters off balance today and we chased a couple of first pitches and the defense came in behind her. They did the little things you have to do to get the W."

Fannett-Metal was also backed up by a stellar pitching performance by Harris, who has pitched in all but two innings so far this season. Harris gave up just two hits, but that wasn't enough to put it away. She struck out five batters.